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Can AI push the boundaries of privacy and reach the subconscious mind?

The European Union's AI act could enable AI to access our subconscious minds, potentially leading to manipulation. According to Ignasi Beltran de Heredia, only 5% of brain activity is conscious, and the remaining 95% operates subconsciously, making it difficult for us to control or even be aware of.

SourceUniversitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC)·JournalRevista de la Facultad de Derecho de México·TypeLiterature review·DateNov 24, 2023

Autonomous excavator constructs a 6-meter-high dry-stone wall

Researchers at ETH Zurich developed an autonomous excavator called HEAP to construct a 6-meter-high and 65-meter-long dry-stone wall. The excavator uses sensors, machine vision, and algorithms to place stones in the desired location, achieving a high level of precision and speed.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalScience Robotics·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 22, 2023

Morphing cones under compression: new research uncovers surprises for soft robotic actuators

Researchers from the University of Cambridge have discovered that conical shells made from soft materials are vulnerable to buckling at much smaller loads than previously predicted. This finding has implications for designing soft robots and mechanisms, as free unclamped edges can weaken thin structures in a surprising manner.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateNov 16, 2023

‘Cutting the cord’ to advance ocean data collection

A team led by Lehigh University's Yahong Rosa Zheng is developing an Autonomous Observatory Node that can collect and transmit data from underwater sensors wirelessly, without the need for expensive subsea cables. The prototype aims to operate at depths of up to 1000 meters, enabling researchers to study extreme environments and detect...

Stable and efficient robotic artificial muscles built upon new material combinations

Researchers have developed a system that enables accurate force measurement in soft material-based actuators, allowing for arbitrarily long periods of constant force. The new material combinations reduce energy consumption by up to thousandfold, enabling the creation of low-cost and high-performance solutions for assistive devices and ...

SourceUniversità di Trento·JournalNature Electronics·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 10, 2023

To excel at engineering design, generative AI must learn to innovate, study finds

Researchers at MIT found that similarity-focused generative AI models falter when tasked with designing new products, highlighting the need to prioritize innovation in engineering tasks. By adjusting training objectives and metrics, AI can be an effective 'co-pilot' for engineers, enabling faster creation of innovative products.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalComputer-Aided Design·DateOct 19, 2023

Instant evolution: AI designs new robot from scratch in seconds

A team of researchers at Northwestern University developed an AI capable of intelligently designing robots from scratch, compressing evolution into lightning speed. The AI designed a successfully walking robot in mere seconds, with a novel structure and three legs, fins along its back, and a flat face.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 3, 2023

Is AI in the eye of the beholder?

Researchers discovered that users' prior beliefs about an AI chatbot's motives significantly impact their interactions with the agent. Priming users to believe certain things about the AI's empathy, neutrality, or manipulation influences their perception of its trustworthiness and effectiveness.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Machine Intelligence·DateOct 2, 2023

Rice U.’s Kaiyu Hang wins NSF CAREER Award

Hang aims to develop general-purpose robots that can handle complex physical interactions without requiring perfect input from sensors or extensive instructions. His project seeks to improve robotic manipulation tasks by reducing assumptions about how the robot acts in real-world conditions.

Robot team on lunar exploration tour

A team of Swiss robots, including legged ANYmal and wheeled robots, is sent to explore a challenging terrain, showcasing the benefits of redundancy and specialization. The robots work together to detect minerals and identify rocks, with semi-autonomous capabilities for direct task assignment.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalScience Robotics·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 12, 2023

AI nursing ethics: viability of robots and artificial intelligence in nursing practice

Researchers examine whether robots and AI can replicate the ethical concepts attributed to human nurses, including advocacy, accountability, cooperation, and caring. While AI can inform patients about medical errors and present treatment options, it questions its ability to truly understand and empathize with patients' values.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalNursing Ethics·TypeLiterature review·DateJul 10, 2023

Displays controlled by flexible fins and liquid droplets more versatile, efficient than LED screens

Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a new type of flexible display that uses capillary-controlled robotic flapping fins and liquid droplets to create switchable optical and infrared light multipixel displays. The displays are 1,000 times more energy efficient than traditional LED screens.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 30, 2023

Advanced universal control system may revolutionize lower limb exoskeleton control and optimize user experience

Researchers developed a new method for controlling lower limb exoskeletons using deep reinforcement learning, enabling more robust and natural walking control. The system has the potential to benefit users with spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, stroke, and other neurological conditions.

SourceKessler Foundation·JournalJournal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 15, 2023

Ankle exosuit for community walking aims to give post-stroke wearers more independence

A new ankle exosuit designed for community use could help stroke survivors improve their walking propulsion, boost confidence, and ability, according to a proof-of-concept study. The device simplifies mechanical components and allows wearers to control it easily, with sensors tracking progress over time.

SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalAnnals of the New York Academy of Sciences·DateMay 30, 2023

Robot centipedes go for a walk

Researchers from Osaka University developed a biomimetic robot that uses dynamic instability to navigate uneven terrain. The robot can switch between straight and curved walking motions, making it suitable for search and rescue operations or planetary exploration.

SourceOsaka University·JournalSoft Robotics·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 29, 2023

Effective as a collective: Researchers investigate the swarming behavior of microrobots

A team of researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz studied the collective behavior of small robots and found that they can solve tasks that a single machine cannot. The study uses statistical physics to analyze how the robots interact and move, revealing potential applications in medical and pharmaceutical applications.

SourceJohannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz·JournalScience Advances·DateMay 26, 2023

Research shows how organizations evaluate whether to imitate or differentiate when a competitor adopts new technology

A new study published in Strategic Management Journal found that organizations serving more difficult customer needs tend to defer investment, while those addressing easier problems accelerate adoption of the same technology. The researchers emphasized the importance of letting customers drive strategy around adopting a technology, reg...

SourceStrategic Management Society·JournalStrategic Management Journal·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 19, 2023

It’s all in the wrist: Energy-efficient robot hand learns how not to drop the ball

Researchers at the University of Cambridge designed a soft robotic hand that can grasp a range of objects using passive movement and tactile sensors. The hand successfully grasped 11 of 14 objects in tests, including a peach, computer mouse, and roll of bubble wrap, demonstrating its ability to predict when it might drop an object.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalAdvanced Intelligent Systems·DateApr 11, 2023

Hansel and Gretel's breadcrumb trick inspires robotic exploration of caves on Mars and beyond

University of Arizona engineers create a communication network allowing robots to explore subsurface environments independently, deploying miniaturized sensors as they traverse caves. The 'breadcrumb-style' system enables swarms of individual robots to navigate convoluted environments without losing contact.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalAdvances in Space Research·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 17, 2023

Grasshopping robots made possible with new, improved latch control

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have developed a latch control system that enables grasshopping robots to perform efficiently on soft substrates. The team discovered that the latch can not only regulate energy output but also mediate energy transfer between the robot and its environment, leading to improved jump performance.

SourceCollege of Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University·JournalJournal of The Royal Society Interface·DateMar 2, 2023